A New Agenda for Peace | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 9
While the United Nations has successfully averted global conflicts, peace remains elusive for many. As countries remain mired in division, the report on Our Common Agenda serves as a clarion call: New multilateralism is not an option, but a necessity. It insists that peace is a choice we must collectively make. And as the world order shifts, this new form of international cooperation must be more equitable, networked, and effective—lest we risk amplifying human suffering.
On the threshold of the AI Axial Age
AI & linguistics, AI & philosophy, humAInism Artificial Intelligence, History of diplomacy and technology BlogsWe're at a turning point in history, facing an AI Era that echoes the transformative Axial Age. From ethics to identity, peace to prosperity, our choices today shape tomorrow's world. As we navigate this threshold, our collective actions will shape the future of AI integration into daily life, emphasizing the need for inclusive dialogue and ethical considerations in AI development and deployment.
Information Integrity on Digital Platforms | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 8
As digital platforms become the new public square, they offer unprecedented opportunities for dialogue and mobilization. Yet, these platforms are also Ground Zero for a war on truth, enabling the viral spread of disinformation that threatens democracies and human lives. Amid preparation for the Summit of the Future, a Code of Conduct for Information Integrity is taking shape. Aimed at steering nations and tech giants alike, this could be our best shot at reclaiming the digital frontier for facts and civility. '
For All Humanity – the Future of Outer Space Governance | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 7
With increased congestion in Earth's orbit and a rising number of stakeholders vying for space resources, outer space's safety, security, and sustainability are at a tipping point. As nations increasingly turn their gaze upward, calls grow louder for agile governance to mitigate emerging risks. The Policy Brief outlines policy steps for addressing risks and maximising the potential for peaceful use of outer space.
Reforms to the International Financial Architecture | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 6
The international financial architecture is outdated and failing humanity. From egregious borrowing costs for developing countries to underinvestment in global crises like climate change and pandemics, the system is rife with inefficiencies and biases. It's a tale of two worlds, with a growing gap between the haves and have-nots, not just in wealth but in access to a secure future. The clock is ticking on ambitious reforms to make the world's financial architecture fit for the 21st century.
Why do crowds riot?
Diplo Wisdom CircleThis article discusses the moment when one's adherence to personal principles is outweighed by collective action's pull. Essentially, each individual's response to their environment varies. For instance, witnessing a single person rioting might not compel someone to join due to moral standpoints, fear of the police, or social stigma. However, seeing a mass engaging in such behavior can alter that viewpoint since the risk of individual consequence diminishes.
The author draws inspiration from Duncan J. Watts's "Everything is Obvious (Once You Know the Answer): How Common Sense Fails Us," which explains the historically complex phenomenon of riots and their explanations, and sociologist Mark Granovetter's mathematical model, "Threshold Models of Collective Behavior," which offers a novel perspective on the psychology of crowd behavior.
A Global Digital Compact – an Open, Free and Secure Digital Future for All | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 5
While the digital world expands, its benefits are not shared worldwide. The digital divide is widening from unaffordable smartphones in Africa to a concentration of data power in a few hands. This Policy Brief outlines building blocks for a Global Digital Compact that should ensure that nobody is left behind in tech and digital developments.
Valuing What Counts: Framework to Progress Beyond Gross Domestic Product | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 4
GDP fails to account for what truly matters: human well-being, the environment, and long-term sustainability. It follows on the 'beyond GDP' trend, which is accelerated by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs The Policy Brief proposes three game-changing recommendations. First, a renewed political commitment that truly values what counts for people and the planet. Second, a scientific approach that produces a limited set of key indicators to create a "UN value dashboard" that complements GDP. And finally, equipping Member States with the resources and training to employ these new measures effectively.
Meaningful Youth Engagement in Policy and Decision-making Processes | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 3
Involving youth isn't about pandering to them; it's about making decisions more effective and restoring trust in public institutions. With social cohesion teetering and the stakes for the planet at an all-time high, their exclusion isn't just unfair; it's short-sighted. The Policy Brief suggests three key fixes: making youth participation mandatory in UN decision-making processes, expanding their role at all governmental levels, and creating a standing UN Youth Townhall.
Strengthening the International Response to Complex Global Shocks – An Emergency Platform | Our Common Agenda Policy Brief 2
An Emergency Platform should be created to deal with future global shocks. This Policy Brief proposed that the Emergency Platform should be a flexible set of on-call protocols that should be activated during emergencies. The Emergency Platform should also harness the UN's unique convening power by bringing together leaders from nations, financial institutions, and civil society to act swiftly in time hats of global duress. The blueprint for the Emergency Platform should emerge from the 2024 Summit of the Future.
